Overall, 2022 was a pretty good year for nonhumans and a model for the future.
During the past month, many people have written to me and asked me to summarize some good news for the plight of nonhuman animals (animals) from the past year of 2022. It’s far too easy to focus on the downside of animal well-being and many people are tired of hearing all the bad things—there are many—but, as it turns out, there were many victories for other animals during the past year.1 This is not to say that much more can’t be done
Animal lovers in Madrid showed some puppy love during this festive period, as they embarked on the San Perrestre walk against animal abandonment.
The annual event, which was organised by the animal protection group El Refugio, reminds us that dogs are not just for Christmas.
“This is the third time we have come to support the shelter and we are very happy to support especially the dogs that need a home,” said one participant.
The event aims to highlight the growing need to adopt cats and dogs that have been abandoned and neglected.
We are all animals: sentient, sensitive, and emotionally complex. But other species aren’t always treated with the respect, dignity, and compassion they deserve. Humans have long exploited other animals for experimentation, food, clothing, and entertainment. But this year (2022) saw a big shift in that mindset.
Here are 10 ways the world became a kinder place in 2022:
Fur isn’t fashion
England scraps glue traps
Living, feeling beings are not laboratory equipment
Saving bears
No foie gras at Buckingham Palace
Freedom for dolphins
Beagle rescue
A knockout blow to blood sport
We repeat: living, feeling beings are not laboratory equipment
There have been some amazing new year firework displays all over the world; but London is ‘our patch’ so we want to show you what happened here – 31st December 2022.
Party time in London ! – the 2022 / into 23 new years eve firework display.
At 3 min 30 secs it is great to see recognition and support for the Ukrainian people and other nations around the world.
I hope that 2023 turns out to be a lot better for our Ukrainian friends; that they witness the end of the war started by Russia, and that they can eventually start returning home to enjoy their wonderful nation again.
This is one of my favourite U2 tracks – and it is always the first to be played by me on new years day – this has now become a kind of tradition. Enjoy:
I want to wish all fellow activists and campaigners a wonderful 2023 in their continued fight for better welfare and the rights of animals. You can see some very positive progress on several issues in the last few posts.
The campaigns can, and will, get stronger every day. If you saw progress in 22, then wait to see what wonders happen in 2023.
Keep up the fight to gain the victories you all deserve;
As you can read in the link (Part 2) below, things got a little edgy to start with – especially when the Belgian police took out their guns and threatened us – but after some discussions all settled down and we carried on.
Cut to Charing Cross station sometime around Easter 1997. – I had made the relatively short journey up to London from my home in North Kent, to the place where everybody on the campaign that day had planned to meet, which was just outside the entrance to Downing Street. Once off the train, I shot down into the underground toilets at Charing Cross station, where I changed from my travelling clothes into those of this ‘Russian seal hunter’.
London – home of the Brash, Outrageous, and Free !
I must admit, the walk from the station through Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Downing Street did get me a few glances from all sorts of people going about their business in the city.
The fact that I was carrying two life-size whitecoat seal pups splattered in blood and wrapped in transparent plastic bags, plus a large baseball bat sort of added to my ‘interest appeal’ I suppose you can call it ‘interest or attention grabbing’ on that walk. But what the hell, I was there to get attention for the campaign to stop Russian seal pups being butchered, so what did it matter what I personally looked like walking the streets of London ?; After all, there are probably many people who walk around the city dressed in similar kind of garb every day.
As you’re reading this, please smile and take a bow. Because you’re responsible for exposing and closing one of the most egregious crimes against the welfare and conservation of animals that the world has ever seen.
Today, because of your constant faith and encouragement, a cruel, barbaric and utterly unnecessary industry is coming to an end. And perhaps just as extraordinary, the perpetrators of this industry are not being punished, but thanked.
The awards are presented by or in the name of the reigning monarch, currently King Charles III or his vice-regal representative. British honours are published in supplements to the London Gazette.
Great to see that see that several campaigners have been presented this new year in relation to animal welfare issues.
Dr. Brian May; ex ‘Queen’ guitarist, founder of the ‘Save Me’ animal welfare organisation – Home page – Save Me Trust – , and huge campaigner against the culling of Badgers in the UK, has now been knighted, and is to be known as Sir Brian May. We end huge congratulations to him.
Fight the Cull.
Virginia Anne McKenna,has now become a dame. Virginia founded the Born Free Foundation – International Animal Welfare Charity | Born Free Foundation – she was originally a British stage and screen actress, author, activist, and wildlife campaigner.
Above – From the past – Virginia with my mum – another days animal campaigning !
A leading marine conservationist has been appointed an MBE in the New Year Honours list for being a “driving force” in the study of a seal species.
Sue Sayer, founder of the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust (CSGRT), received the honour for services to wildlife protection and conservation.
Ms Sayer, 60, has helped protect the globally-rare grey seal for 20 years.
There are lots of celebrities and sportspeople who are honoured in the new years lists, so it is great to see that this time animal welfare persons have also been rewarded. Congratulations to all of them.
Scientists alarmed over Russia’s ‘risky’ attempt to awaken virus that killed mammoths
WAV Comment – maybe they have not heard of Covid, and what it can do ! – crazy or what ?
These prehistoric viruses are thought to be up to 400,000 years old and have remained dormant in the frozen remains of woolly mammoths found in Yakutia, Russia, where temperatures can plummet to -55C. This research is being conducted by the Russian Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology.
However, experts have raised concerns over the research, describing it as “risky” and confessing to a lack of confidence in the research facility.
Professor Jean-Michel Claverie, from the National Centre of Scientific Research at the University of Aix-Marseille recently spoke with the Times to express his alarm.
He said: “[Vector’s research] is terrible. I’m totally against it.
“[It] is very, very risky. Our immune systems have never encountered these type of viruses. Some of them could be 200,000 or even 400,000 years old.
I never really ‘enjoy’ Christmas that much; although as a ‘Christian’, I probably should celebrate more.
The mass murder of animals every day in slaughterhouses around the world is terrible enough, let alone ‘celebrating’ more over yuletide by stuffing fat faces with the unnecessary deaths of sentient beings.
For me, Christmas is a time of even more sadness really. Yes, a few presents are given to loved ones – as giving is what it is about really. The sadness is always there when (as an activist who over many years has ‘seen’ quite a bit on issues); when I think about the mass, unnecessary slaughter that takes place especially in this season (of goodwill ?) so that people can have a ‘good time’ munching on murder. What is good about the captive bolt and the bleeding out of gentle animals who have never done anything against the human race but are now murdered as extras to be placed on the family Christmas table ?
Also, why are, like the animals, little children in the Ukraine having to endure this festive season without ever really being a kiddie and enjoying the suprises that should await them when they wake up on Christmas morning, in warm houses with windows, electricity and running water ? – what have they done in their short lives to be picked on and targeted by this senseless madman from across their border. Innocent children being picked on by persons who feel they are and must retain being top dog, top of the tree – for me, there are a lot of similarities to the abuses of some humans to the abuses endured by farm / meat animals – think about it – top of the tree and all that.
Now we hardly give presents to each other; instead we like to give financial donations to charity to help their campaigns / causes instead; to help free bears from bile farms – Home (animalsasia.org), to help the rescue and welfare of animals in India from our wonderful friends at AAU – https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=animal+aid+unlimited , to fight live transport, hunting, in vivisection, etc , etc. The list just goes on.
This year especially I think about the people of the Ukraine; innocents caught up in the crossfire of a neighbouring psycho madman. I hope you will think about them and others this festive season, when things are supposed to be good ?
Take stand and make it suffering free;
I wish all activists best wishes for what they do – keep it up and have a very successful and productive 2023 with all your campaigning. For the animals;
Regards Mark
A farm investigation has revealed dead turkeys hanging by the feet, inside a slaughterhouse at night. In November investigators with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) entered a turkey slaughterhouse in the UK. They were not expecting what they found –
“We were extremely shocked to see a number of dead turkeys hanging by their feet in the middle of the night, it was as though they had stopped ‘processing’ these birds mid way through and gone home for the night.” Said one of the investigators. “We were just expecting to enter a shed full of turkeys waiting for their death but we found an on site slaughterhouse. I saw a door going into another room and I peered through, revealing the horrific sight of around 6 dead turkeys hanging by their feet almost fully de-feathered.
Blood was dripping out of their mouths and eyes.” “Nothing can prepare you to witness the blatant disregard of life inside of a slaughterhouse. These turkeys had personalities, family, friends and a subjective experience of life; but here they are treated as a mere object to make profit from. The beings we saw and photographed are the beings who may be on your table this Christmas.
We urge everyone to make the connection to the individual, and understand what they went through before their mutilated body lays on your table. Celebrations that rely on the traditions surrounding the murder of sentient individuals needs to be history.”
World Animals Voice 